New Bonaventure a.k.a Hollywood East

Where the Grand Seduction,

The Shipping News

and Random Passage came to life.

New Bonaventure, just a 20 minute drive from Trinity along Route 239, boasts some of the top visitor attractions on the Bonavista Peninsula. Over the past 10 years the area has captured the imagination of the international film industry and has repeatedly been selected as the chosen spot to film in Newfoundland. It has been used as the primary location for the filming of the CBC mini series Random Passage, The Shipping News and the soon to be released The Grand Seduction. Physical sets from both Random Passage and the Grand Seduction can still be visited. For more details on the area now nicknamed "Hollywood East" read the article The Grand Seduction to be Released this Fall published in July 2013 about the history of the film industry in New Bonaventure.

Visitors can also experience Trinity Bay's history from the water with Rugged Beauty Boat Tours, named the best experience on the water in Canada by the online travel journal www.vacay.ca. Bruce was also featured on the series finale of Anna and Kristina's Grocery Bags that aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network in 2012.

Driving Directions: Turn onto Route 239 from Route 230, Drive for approximately 20 minutes passing the communities of Dunfield and Trouty and Old Bonaventure. When you arrive in New Bonaventure turn right to go to the Random Passage Tea Room to pick up passes for both film sets or turn left towards the docks to find Rugged Beauty Boat Tours.

Random Passage

Film Set

Constructed in 2000 for the filming of the international TV mini-series "Random Passage" the site today provides the opportunity to step back in time to learn about the obstacles and opportunities our forebears faced during early settlement. Visitors can pick up a pass at the Random Passage Tea Room and walk down to the site for a self-guided tour or they can join a tour with a knowledgeable tour guide. It is not necessary to have seen the movie to appreciate the beauty of the site and the realities of the difficult life early settlers faced. Copies of Random Passage are available at the Artisan Inn for guests to watch during their stay. Copies can also be purchased at the tearoom. Click Here to visit the Random Passage Website

A captivating scene around every corner

See how children once studied in school

See different styles of historic architecture

The Grand Seduction

Film Set

In 2012 Hollywood descended on New Bonaventure once again for the filming of The Grand Seduction starring Brendan Gleeson, Taylor Kitsch and Gordon Pinsent. The movie is a remake of the 2003 Quebec film La Grande Seduction, known in English as Seducing Doctor Lewis. A bar called Joe's Bar was constructed for the 4 months of filming and was gifted to the community by production as a thank you for the warm hospitality they received during their time working in New Bonaventure. The set is not currently functioning as a bar. The synopsis of the movie can be read in the article linked at the top of the page. Joe's sits within the same community where many of the outdoor scenes of The Shipping News took place. The movie is set to be released in the Fall of 2013. A small admission is charged to visit the site and can be paid at

the Random Passage Tea Room

Joe's Bar constructed for the film.

Brendan Gleeson hanging out at the Twine Loft while taking time off from shooting

Rugged Beauty

Boat Tour

This tour is lead by lifetime local resident Bruce Miller who tells the story of how confederation and resettlement affected smaller communities, which are now only evident from the ruins of abandoned churches, stages and sheds.

The tour was listed as vacay.ca's top experience on the water in Canada for 2013 and has been awarded The Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor.